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Javier Castellano Wins 2023 George Woolf Memorial Award

A four-time Eclipse Award winner and a member of racing's Hall of Fame since 2017, Venezuelan native Javier Castellano has won the 2023 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award via a nationwide vote of his fellow riders.

Castellano, 45, will be honored in a Runhappy Winner's Circle ceremony at Santa Anita this spring. Married to his wife, Abby, Castellano, who immigrated to the United States in June of 1997, has three children, Kayla, Sienna and Brady and is the son-in-law of Terry Meyocks, National Director of the Jockeys' Guild.

Presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950 and one of the most coveted awards in racing, the Woolf Award, which recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character garner esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing, can only be won once.

“I am proud to have been honored and selected to win this incredible award,” said Castellano. “It is one that is obviously prestigious, but to be voted by my fellow riders truly makes this so special. I admire my fellow nominees as well as the other incredible riders that have won this award in years past.

“The significance of this award definitely does not go unnoticed. I have so many people to thank and I look forward to having my family with me to accept this award at Santa Anita.”

Named for the late Hall of Fame jockey who gained national acclaim by winning the inaugural Santa Anita H. on Feb. 23, 1935 aboard Azucar and later by piloting the immortal Seabiscuit to victory over Triple Crown Champion War Admiral in match race at Pimlico Race Course on Nov. 1, 1938, the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award has been won by most of the greatest names in the history of the sport.

Second all-time only to fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Castellano now has career purse earnings of more than $377 million and through Dec. 31, 2022, had recorded 5,595 career wins.

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2023 George Woolf Award Finalists Announced

Jockeys Daniel Cedeno, Javier Castellano, Terry Houghton, Edwin Maldonado, and Willie Martinez have been named by Santa Anita Park as finalists for the 2023 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Determined by a vote of their fellow riders nationwide, the Woolf Award can only be won once in a lifetime. It has been presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950. All of the finalists, except Castellano, are appearing on the ballot for the first time.

The Woolf Award was named in honor of the late George Woolf, known as “The Iceman,” who passed away due to a racing accident at Santa Anita in 1946. The first recipient of the award was Gordon Glisson in 1950, while Joe Bravo was the 73rd recipient this past year. The Woolf Award trophy is a replica of the life-sized statue which adorns Santa Anita's Paddock Gardens area.

The 2023 Woolf Award winner will be announced in February.

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Joe Bravo Wins George Woolf Award

Veteran rider Joe Bravo, who moved his tack last year from New Jersey to California, has been named the recipient of Santa Anita's 2022 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. The Woolf Award recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character compliment the sport of Thoroughbred racing. It can only be won once and is voted on by jockeys nationwide. Bravo will be honored in a Runhappy winner's circle ceremony at Santa Anita Sunday, Mar. 27.

“It really is an honor to now be part of this circle of riders, joining all of these guys that I grew up with or grew up underneath, I'll put it like that,” said Bravo. “I was lucky enough to win the East Coast version of the Woolf Award, the Mike Venezia Award in 2018, and now to be honored here on the West Coast, wow, you don't know what an honor this is. My Dad will be coming out and this makes all the hard days, the mornings that we work, it makes it all worthwhile. There's probably only one award above this that I'd like to have, and that's the Hall of Fame.”

A native of New Jersey, Bravo–whose nickname has long been “Jersey Joe”–has been a dominant force in the Mid-Atlantic, particularly at Monmouth Park, dating back to the early 1990s. He announced his move to California last year, stating it was due to a change in riding rules instituted by the New Jersey Racing Commission. Bravo, who has won 13 riding titles at Monmouth and nine at the Meadowlands, has won nearly 5,600 races.

The Woolf Award was named for the late Hall of Fame rider who is probably best known for his win aboard Seabiscuit over War Admiral in the 1938 Pimlico match race. An estimated radio audience of 40 million tuned in. Nicknamed “The Iceman,” Woolf died in 1946 from complications arising from a racing accident at Santa Anita the day prior. The Woolf Award has been presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950. The trophy is a replica of the life-sized statue of Woolf that adorns Santa Anita's Paddock Gardens area.

Deshawn Parker won the Woolf Award last year. Finalists this year included Glenn Corbett, Julien Leparoux, Rodney Prescott, and Tim Thornton.

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Woolf Award Finalists Announced

Jockeys Joe Bravo, Glenn Corbett, Julien Leparoux, Rodney Prescott and Tim Thornton make up the list of finalists for the prestigious 2022 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950, the award–named for the legendary and highly respected George “The Iceman” Woolf–“recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character garner esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing.” Voted on by jockeys nationwide, the Woolf Award winner will be announced in February.

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